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113
document he read was a series of resolutions
that contained very structured language and
has come to be called the “ White
Declaration of Independence.” Members of
the press were called upon to serve as
secretaries of the meeting. 64
After Waddell completed reading the
statement, the crowd responded with a
standing ovation. Former mayor S. H.
Fishblate wished for additional wording to
be added to the resolutions requiring the
resignations of the mayor, chief of police,
and Board of Aldermen. George Rountree
then stepped up to move that the resolutions
and proposed amendment be reviewed by a
committee of five men who would report
back to the assembly with any necessary
changes or recommendations. After
Rountree’s suggestion was approved, he was
placed on the committee along with Iredell
information as it was necessary at that stage of the
proceedings for him to be informed as from that time
on he would be connected with the movement.” She
also wrote that Waddell “ was also made chairman of
the committee of 20 men who were appointed to give
the negroes a certain alternative concerning the
Record printing press; and also he had charge of the
impromptu affair at the armory, a thing not provided
for; something unforeseen; and done on the spur of
the moment. It was righteous and first, at least that
part concerning the destruction of the printing press.
Firing the building was considered to be a mistake
and His being made mayor was something separate
and distinct from the organization that was formed
for the protection of the town.” She said that
Waddell “ was not present at any one of the meetings
and knew nothing whatever of the plan of action until
the night following his election as mayor, when he
asked the leaders for information as it was necessary
at that stage of the proceedings for him to be
informed as from that time on he would be connected
with the movement.” Mrs. Roger Moore, 1900, Mrs.
Roger Moore Collection, University of North
Carolina at Wilmington Library.
64 Reporters who participated were E. P. Bell of the
Chicago Record, N. W. Messenger of the
Washington Star, Augustus Kohn of the Charleston
News and Courier, T. W. Clawson of the Messenger
and William J. Martin of the Morning Star. Morning
Star, ( Wilmington), November 10, 1898.
Meares, Hugh MacRae, Walker Taylor, and
S. H. Fishblate. 65 The committee reviewed
the resolutions and amendment while others
called for a speech from Waddell, who
advocated peaceful measures since he felt it
unnecessary to “ adopt violent measures as
the editor of the Record would be dealt
with.” In response, there were shouts to
“ fumigate the city with the Record.”
Bellamy was also called to the podium and
he, too, pressed for a peaceful end to the
affair. Another speaker, P. B. Manning,
urged moderation and claimed that the
reason why the “ people of Wilmington had
not avenged the Record’s vile slander long
before” was because they “ had not had the
time” due to the “ great work of the
campaign.” Manning also stated that to
adopt Fishblate’s resolution would amount
to “ anarchy,” resting his faith in the new
legislature to “ make a clean sweep of the
City Hall.” 66
Committee members returned to the
podium with the resolutions that were
approved after a second reading. The
committee reworked Fishblate’s proposal to
force the resignations of the entire city
government in favor of pushing for the
resignation of the mayor and chief of police.
Fishblate and another businessman,
Nathaniel Jacobi, felt that the amendment’s
replacement wording did not “ go far
enough,” and Jacobi indicated that he
thought the leaders “ should be commanded
to resign one by one.” In response,
Rountree explained that the “ matter would
be attended to.” After a second reading and
assurances that the matter of the rest of the
65 Wilmington Messenger, November 10, 1898;
Morning Star, ( Wilmington), November 10, 1898.
66 This statement by Manning clearly indicated that
he and others were certain that the new
Democratically controlled legislature would reverse
Fusionist changes to the city’s charter. Wilmington
Messenger, November 10, 1898; Morning Star,
( Wilmington), November 10, 1898.

113
document he read was a series of resolutions
that contained very structured language and
has come to be called the “ White
Declaration of Independence.” Members of
the press were called upon to serve as
secretaries of the meeting. 64
After Waddell completed reading the
statement, the crowd responded with a
standing ovation. Former mayor S. H.
Fishblate wished for additional wording to
be added to the resolutions requiring the
resignations of the mayor, chief of police,
and Board of Aldermen. George Rountree
then stepped up to move that the resolutions
and proposed amendment be reviewed by a
committee of five men who would report
back to the assembly with any necessary
changes or recommendations. After
Rountree’s suggestion was approved, he was
placed on the committee along with Iredell
information as it was necessary at that stage of the
proceedings for him to be informed as from that time
on he would be connected with the movement.” She
also wrote that Waddell “ was also made chairman of
the committee of 20 men who were appointed to give
the negroes a certain alternative concerning the
Record printing press; and also he had charge of the
impromptu affair at the armory, a thing not provided
for; something unforeseen; and done on the spur of
the moment. It was righteous and first, at least that
part concerning the destruction of the printing press.
Firing the building was considered to be a mistake
and His being made mayor was something separate
and distinct from the organization that was formed
for the protection of the town.” She said that
Waddell “ was not present at any one of the meetings
and knew nothing whatever of the plan of action until
the night following his election as mayor, when he
asked the leaders for information as it was necessary
at that stage of the proceedings for him to be
informed as from that time on he would be connected
with the movement.” Mrs. Roger Moore, 1900, Mrs.
Roger Moore Collection, University of North
Carolina at Wilmington Library.
64 Reporters who participated were E. P. Bell of the
Chicago Record, N. W. Messenger of the
Washington Star, Augustus Kohn of the Charleston
News and Courier, T. W. Clawson of the Messenger
and William J. Martin of the Morning Star. Morning
Star, ( Wilmington), November 10, 1898.
Meares, Hugh MacRae, Walker Taylor, and
S. H. Fishblate. 65 The committee reviewed
the resolutions and amendment while others
called for a speech from Waddell, who
advocated peaceful measures since he felt it
unnecessary to “ adopt violent measures as
the editor of the Record would be dealt
with.” In response, there were shouts to
“ fumigate the city with the Record.”
Bellamy was also called to the podium and
he, too, pressed for a peaceful end to the
affair. Another speaker, P. B. Manning,
urged moderation and claimed that the
reason why the “ people of Wilmington had
not avenged the Record’s vile slander long
before” was because they “ had not had the
time” due to the “ great work of the
campaign.” Manning also stated that to
adopt Fishblate’s resolution would amount
to “ anarchy,” resting his faith in the new
legislature to “ make a clean sweep of the
City Hall.” 66
Committee members returned to the
podium with the resolutions that were
approved after a second reading. The
committee reworked Fishblate’s proposal to
force the resignations of the entire city
government in favor of pushing for the
resignation of the mayor and chief of police.
Fishblate and another businessman,
Nathaniel Jacobi, felt that the amendment’s
replacement wording did not “ go far
enough,” and Jacobi indicated that he
thought the leaders “ should be commanded
to resign one by one.” In response,
Rountree explained that the “ matter would
be attended to.” After a second reading and
assurances that the matter of the rest of the
65 Wilmington Messenger, November 10, 1898;
Morning Star, ( Wilmington), November 10, 1898.
66 This statement by Manning clearly indicated that
he and others were certain that the new
Democratically controlled legislature would reverse
Fusionist changes to the city’s charter. Wilmington
Messenger, November 10, 1898; Morning Star,
( Wilmington), November 10, 1898.